Maryland (8-7, 0-4) vs. Northwestern (8-5, 1-3)
January 12, 2021
Welsh Ryan Arena
9:00 pm EDT
COLLEGE PARK, MD - The Maryland men's basketball team hits the road to take on Northwestern Wednesday evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena. It marks the Terps' fourth game in 10 days (three on the road) to open the month of January. Maryland will play seven games in 19 days from Jan. 3 to Jan. 21.
The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
NORTHWESTERN STORYLINES
FIGHT TILL THE END
- In Maryland's most recent outing against then-No. 23 Wisconsin, it fell into a 29-8 first half hole before climbing all the way back to take the lead in the second half.
- Eric Ayala's desperation heave fell short as the Terrapins lost by one point. It would have tied Maryland's largest comeback (21 points) in program history (2004 vs. NC State - ACC Tournament).
Ayala finding his form
- All-Big Ten senior guard Eric Ayala is averaging 19.2 points over his last five games, shooting 31-of-57 (.544) from the field and .483 from beyond the arc.
- In the three previous games prior to the recent outburst, Ayala had averaged just 7.0 points on 25-percent shooting.
PLAYING WITH HART
- Junior guard Hakim Hart is averaging 12.4 points and shooting 42-of-71 (.550) from the field over the last eight games.
- He has reached double-figures in every game during that eight-game span, after reaching the mark just nine times in his first 55 collegiate games.
- The Terrapins are 7-0 when Hart notches at least two steals in a game this season.
LEAGUE OF HIS OWN
- Graduate guard Fatts Russell is the only active player in Division I with more than 1,700 points, 450 assists and 225 steals.
- Among active Division I players, he currently ranks 6th in free throws made (469), 12th in steals (227), 25th in points (1,782) and 35th in assists (469).
GETTING THE LEAD
- Maryland has led in the second half of all four of its Big Ten Conference contests.
- In fact, Maryland has led in the second half of all but one of its losses the entire season (George Mason - 11/17).
SERIES HISTORY
- Maryland is 9-3 against Northwestern since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014-15, but has dropped its last two meetings to the Wildcats.
- The Terps are 5-1 all-time at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
- Maryland fell to Northwestern earlier this season on Dec. 5, two days after former head coach Mark Turgeon and the University of Maryland mutually agreed to part ways.
- Junior Hakim Hart scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting (4-of-6 3FG) in that meeting.
Click here for this week's game notes.
